Preview: Harrogate Town vs. Bradford City - prediction, team news, lineups

Harrogate Town and Bradford City square off on Friday afternoon with both sides aware that only a win will do if they want to retain any hope of making the League Two playoffs.

Although these sides sit in 14th and 17th position in the standings respectively, they are each within seven points of seventh place with a game in hand.

Match preview

© Reuters

Bouncing back from losing 9-2 to Mansfield Town on February 13 - in the same season where they have lost 8-0 to Blackburn Rovers - was always going to be tough for Harrogate.

However, another seven matches have since passed by without the Yorkshire outfit getting another win on the board, three of the four points collected during that period coming from goalless draws.

In their defence, Harrogate will be satisfied with such results posted away at Wrexham and Barrow, teams who sit in third and sixth place respectively.

Nevertheless, it has only mounted the pressure on a run of victories being required during the run-in, like they did at the start of the year when 13 points came from a possible 15.

Harrogate are one of only two teams in the division to reach double figures in terms of defeats at home, Simon Weaver's side also being on a three-game losing streak at The EnviroVent Stadium.

Staying on the theme of three successive losses and Bradford are currently on that unwanted streak heading into this contest.

All three defeats have come at Valley Parade, with 10 goals being conceded in the process, and it is threatening to leave Graham Alexander's side with little to play for.

Bradford can still redeem themselves, however, with a win on Saturday having the potential to catapult them back up to 13th spot, yet it remains to be seen whether they can respond to losing 3-0 to previously out-of-form Notts County.

On a plus note, Bradford have won their last two away fixtures in the fourth tier, and they will back themselves to extend that given Harrogate's own troubles at their home ground.

Team News

Harrogate defender Liam Gibson missed out against Barrow with a knock and he will be assessed ahead of potentially returning to the squad.

Lewis Thomas, Rod McDonald and Sam Folarin are all expected to remain sidelined, so Weaver could start with the same team from the last game.

Alexander is likely to take a different approach to his Bradford selection with Harry Chapman among those who could be recalled.

Clarke Odour is an alternative to Lewis Richards at wing-back, while Matthew Platt seems certain to return to the back three.

Barring any fresh issues, Alexander should have no injuries to contend with for this contest.

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:Belshaw; Burrell, O'Connor, Foulds; Abu, Thomson, Cornelius, Odoh; Daly; March, Muldoon

Bradford City possible starting lineup:Walker; Oyegoke, Ridehalgh, Platt; Halliday, Gilliead, Smallwood, Odour; Walker, Chapman; Cook

We say: Harrogate Town 2-1 Bradford City

With both teams not in form, this match is difficult to predict, but each side can throw caution to the wind with relegation not a concern. Given that Bradford have lost three games in succession, we are giving the nod to Harrogate, albeit in a hard-fought fixture.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Previews by email